Bristol-based professional advisers have overcome turbulent times in the domestic tourist sector to complete the sale of a long-established Welsh holiday cottage business to one of the UK’s leading vacation lettings agencies.
The Bristol office of accountancy group Smith & Williamson worked with the corporate team from law firm Thrings’ on Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages’ acquisition by The Travel Chapter Group. 
Established in 1976, Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages offers high-quality holiday accommodation in the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountain National Park, the Wye Valley, the Welsh Marshes, Golden Valley and the South Wales Valleys through its portfolio of 330 self-catering cottages – making it one of the largest self-catering cottage providers in the region.
The Travel Chapter Group, based in Bideford, North Devon, is the market leader for self-catering holidays, providing a wide choice of high-quality, personally inspected properties across the UK and overseas.
Both firms have benefitted from the increase in staycations over recent years and are expected to continue to receive strong future bookings as holidaymakers take more UK breaks. 
Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages will now become The Travel Chapter Group’s core brand within the region and will benefit from added marketing exposure and reach across a number of sites within its network, which receives over 30m visits a year and includes the flagship brand holidaycottages.co.uk.
The Travel Chapter Group markets more than 5,000 properties through its websites having acquired a number of letting firms and specialist accommodation providers over recent years.
Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages founder Elizabeth Daniel, pictured, was advised by Thrings and Smith & Williamson on all aspects of the sale.
The Thrings team was led by Simon Hore, with support from fellow corporate partner John Davies and solicitor Conor Melvin. Associate solicitor Rebecca Whiting advised on the property aspects of the deal.
Smith & Williamson’s corporate finance team was led by Martyn Fraser and Paul Stagg. 
Elizabeth Daniel said: “I am immensely proud of the part we have played in promoting the Brecon Beacons National Park over the past four decades and I am delighted that The Travel Chapter Group is going to build on this.
“This is a tremendously exciting development for Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages and its many customers.
“The Smith & Williamson team came highly recommended to me and immediately proved to be a great choice. They were crucial in helping me select the right partner to take the business forward for the benefit of our staff, owners and customers.
“I really cannot thank them highly enough for their unwavering and tremendous support, advice, reassurance and ‘hand-holding’ throughout this transaction, most certainly the most turbulent and uncertain time in the tourism industry.
“I would also like to thank Simon and his team at Thrings for their exceptional help and attention to detail. This deal took place during extremely challenging trading conditions and it simply wouldn’t have got over the line had it not been for Thrings’ expertise, diligence and sheer determination.” 
Simon Hore, pictured above, added: “Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages’ focus on consistently providing high-quality accommodation has enabled thousands of people to enjoy holidays and short breaks in what is a beautiful part of the world over the past 40 years.
“By working closely with Elizabeth, we were able to gain greater insight into her strategic and commercial objectives and are very pleased to have been able to help her realise them. This transaction marks a significant milestone in her company’s history.”
Smith & Williamson partner Martyn Fraser, pictured above, said the deal was the latest the firm had completed as the tourism sector continues to experience rapid consolidation.
“The UK holiday cottage market is going to see growing demand in the coming years and this transaction will ensure property owners in the national park benefit from that,” he said.
“Retaining the local team and services that owners and customers value was crucial to Elizabeth and I am delighted we were able to structure a transaction to achieve that.”
Financial details of the sale have not been disclosed.
Last year the same teams from Smith & Williamson and Thrings advised another family-run holiday cottage letting firm Dorset Coastal Cottages on its acquisition by The Travel Chapter.
